Alex

Alex is a contributor and editor for TinyHouseTalk.com and the always free Tiny House Newsletter. He has a passion for exploring and sharing tiny homes (from yurts and RVs to tiny cabins and cottages) and inspiring simple living stories. We invite you to send in your story and tiny home photos too so we can re-share and inspire others towards a simple life too. Thank you!

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Very nicely done! Steps instead of a ladder, a kitchen with great counterspace for all kinds of activities, a desk, and a loft with some lift. I’m sure someone will find something to fuss about, but this house seems to cover all the issues everyone finds difficult to overcome. Aesthetics, too. Congratulations on getting your priorities straight so that you can devote your time and resources to your art. Best wishes.

Another comment, bear with me: I rarely have time to look at the videos on here, and am so glad I did. It was great to see how the unusual roof-style gives the impression of airiness, instead of the usual claustrophobia-inducing pitch of most THs. The builder addressed this, and also showed a lot of other problem-solving, like the wheel wells (never thought of that!) I also learned a lot from watching how two people, one of whom is tall, moved around this TH without having to jump out of the way of the other. And the woodwork! Local New Zealand woods? I love the cozy THs, but this one has definitely given me something to think about. I could breathe in this one. Once again, stunning and wellcrafted. Thanks for sharing.

You forgot the camera girl, Sal. So it makes three people in the house. Thanks for the tip on the video. That loft! Didn’t realize it was off-grid til he showed the water storage. Very inventive. Sharing this one with friends who have claustrophobia and bad knees. No more excuses! Thanks to Alex and his friends. True craftsmanship.

A very clever design with a good loft, appears spacious and airy, nice
staircase, lots of kitchen space and off-grid technology. Like the use of
repurposed lumber which adds character. I’d give this TH an A+.

I think what we are seeing in both this one and tinyhousebuild’s hOMe is tiny house 2.0. Many everyday living issues are being worked out with this generation of tiny homes. These are really well thought out designs. Clearly the roof line works much better than what we’ve seen a lot of in the past.

Hi Mary,
I received a crowd-funding announcement about the DOLFI clothes washer, that approaches the process from a new point of view. Instead of an agitator, it uses ultrasonic sound waves through water to shake loose dirt and debris. It’s receiving rave reviews from travelers who test it, because any sink or container with water becomes a washing machine. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/01/21/dolfi-washing-device_n_6510494.html

I currently live with a washer and no dryer. I did pick up a hand-wringer (similar to a wringer-washer from the 1950s, only this is hand-cranked and attaches to a washtub, or laundry sink as I have in my bathroom). I hang up clothes and have a fan that blows air around the room. This method works in the winter as well as the summer.

Love the house!
My question is twofold.
It appears that this house is in someone’s driveway. Since the owner doesn’t have a vehicle is this where the house will stay?

As for a composting toilet, which I use, I know that one needs to have a area to compost the waste. Does the owner of the house have that space?
I love tiny house living, although I live in a yurt, but regulations allowing for permanent or long term temporary situations are still lagging behind
Best to the builder and thanks for sharing

Okay. I’m just going to say it (with respect to everyone). I HATE tiny houses on wheels. I respect that wheels are the optimal option for many of you, but they just aren’t relevant in our world. If we wanted a travel trailer, we’d be interested. But how about living in a static location for the long term? To me, that’s where tiny living makes the most impact. Can you please indicate “on wheels” when you highlight a story to spare us looking at an 8′ wide trailer that equates to “not an option” for at least some of us?

ml, you probably already know this, but for others on the site: Wheels on a tiny house are not necessarily for mobility, although they do allow the house to be moved. Jay Shafer, founder of Tumbleweed Tiny Homes and Four Lights Tiny Homes, writes in his “Small House Book” that the purpose of building a house on a wheeled trailer was to get around building codes and minimum size regulations, since a house on wheels is technically an RV, and comes under a different set of rules.

I’ve seen quite a few comments on this site from THers who built tiny homes and then had major difficulties finding a place to put them–even under the supposedly easier RV rules. It would be impossible to put most of these homes on a foundation unless they were accessory dwelling units in someone’s back yard.

Too tall to be road usable in the US?Other than that,its very nice,Love the stairs. Granite countertop in a very budget house,(Used lbr,) A dish washer,but no bathroom?
Personal choice I guess.Good luck to him.

In New Zealand and Australia you need better separation between bathroom and kitchen. Some designs I have seen (these pages) have this separation. You get the separation simply by placing the toilet door at the narrowend of the bathroom. (ie is from the living space)

Love the Roof line- one of the better roofs I have seen- The loft looked really comfortable- liked the whole airflow thing. Once again I was reminded about building for your environment is key for a small house. If you needed to heat this space- under floor electrical radiant heat film would work- even a electric blanket or mattress pad. Having the ability to move the toilet bucket outside makes sense-(depending on the climate and neighbors) I would also would look into installing a shower head and valve on the outside of the building- In a tropical climate- keeping the moisture out of the structure wouldn’t hurt. Would add one more window- right by the table- so I could face out and eat dinner looking out the window.
I do wonder if he has found a spot to park it-Was wondering if it was parked in the parents driveway and is on its way to a more remote location. I also have notice a lacking of blinds- for taking a nap during the hot part of the day- would be needed- and at night – sometimes you just need to shut the world away. This is one house that makes me go yes I might be interested in doing this.

Hi Curt,
Actually, when I was watching the first video, I notice that there is a black blind in the up/open position with a string on both the little window by the pillows and on the end by the dresser. I think there is one on the other window across from the dresser.

After looking at the pictures, all the windows have blinds at the top that he can close if he wants. If he sat on the side of the foldup table he can look out that window. I did see a rod to hang close in the video in the bathroom area. He has it set up to move the bathroom curtain door, so that he can have more room in the kitchen or in the bathroom. Clever idea. I would like to make the kitchen table a desk table, and have shelves above for a printer, or other electronics or anything else he may need. Over, all I think he has a nice setup for himself, especially when he moved close to the beach. I envy him, as I would love to live near a beach. I wish him a great life.

Hi all, I’ll try answer as many q’s I’ve seen posted as I can. For a start its called an MV Inlakesh- which is Mobile Villa. I built it in my parents driveway to tow away to a beach area property(moving it out on feb 20th). Its 4.17m high from the ground and 2.44m wide, 6m long plus a 1m deck. Its got ‘Roman’ blinds, look above the windows. No heating source as yet but am looking into small tea light candle solutions. It doesn’t freeze down here but it still gets cold. A wood stove is still too expensive for me right now but it would go where the bucket chair is by the door if I had one, maybe in the future. The composting toilet will be in use where I am moving it, until then the toilet in my folks house does me well. The bench tops are just formica(plastic laminate), not granite. behind the stairs are good storage for over-sized things, where else do you put musical instruments etc, and it also contains the 2 batteries. If it was turned into drawers then no space to put sax or drum. I am about to start redrawing the plans to make available, contact me via http://www.skinbonestone.com.
I am really honored by all your comments and didn’t realize so many people felt the same issues I had with other designs. I knew I had a winner. Maybe I should put on offer my other ideas. Thank you everyone and good luck with your own- start now with a ‘wish list’, people have stuff in their garages for projects like ours and they dont want to throw them away, rather give to people like us. Just start it. Peace, Brett

Hi Brett,
Just wanted to say that your MV is, without a doubt, the best design (in my opinion) for actually living in a tiny house I’ve seen yet. It has the most spacious loft area, and your explanations on air flow made me re-think some misconceptions I had, and also on installing a 12V electrical system. Way to go! All the best.

My comments echo most of those here-incredible design!
For my American THers, Height: 4.17m=13.68ft, so we’d have to trim it just a tad. W: 2.44m=8.005ft. Very much doable Stateside! I had been thinking 5th wheel to avoid stairs (health), but this is making me rethink. Hmm, maybe both! Roof line, airflow–so many design elements are simply spot on!
Kudos to you Brett for the fantastic built and to you Alex for bringing this gem to us!

this tiny house has so much to offer the rest of us who have still to build our tiny houses. Clever use of the wheelwells – becoming a shelf under the desk or as a footstool – can always use one of those when sitting at the desk. The convertable space in the bathroom – either hang the curtain inside the bathroom to give more kitchen space or hang it out into the kitchen for more space in the bathroom – an option that would save me wondering if there’s enough wriggle room in either space now!! There could be an arrangement set up to draw the curtain along curved tracks rather than having to unhook it.
The native timber is very beautiful too and adds a luxury touch without great expense….I’m not to keen on manmade options, rather go for the tree grown reuseable option. Love the stairs and the whole upstairs atmosphere, it looks immediately comfortable, doesn’t have the ‘shuffle myself into bed and attempt to get comfortable look’. Crossflow ventilation to keep the air fresh and cool while you’re sleeping. Hopefully, there will be plans available. One last thing – loved the side carved support to the foldaway table.

I recently moved from New Zealand to the US because I was feeling incredibly stifled, from lack of job opportunities to the ridiculous price of rent, I just couldn’t see my future being anything but limited. SO I moved away from my family to the land of opportunity and have started looking into building my own little place on a patch of land. I’m excited to be able to do what I love to make ends meet because I don’t have to worry about working a job I hate to pay the rent! I wish I had found out about tiny home living while I was still in NZ, although I believe in fate so I guess it was meant to happen this way! Thanks for sharing your home, I love your roof design and also your water storage 🙂

Hello. I have researched tiny house living for almost ten years now and I’m about to make the leap!! I always find it amazing that you think you know exactly what you want and then you see something like this and suddenly everything you thought you loved is changed!!! This house is brilliant. The space. The shape. the windows. everything. Are the plans for sale? I love the interview at the end especially. after watching it I feel inspired and just so full of happiness and joy that I am not alone in this world of commercialism and McMansions!!

Hi Brett, you are talented, I like the way you build the house, simple, functioning, it’s tiny but it fit itself, it is the best design among all tiny houses that i saw, friendly color tone of the house that feel wanting to stay inside for the whole day, feel coming back home when out 🙂 I wish I could learn from you, hope to have my own like yours.

Where are the rails for the stairs? Make those stairs safe! What if a pregnant wife falls down the stairs because she can’t see over her belly and tends to tip forward. Wouldn’t you like to make the grandmother or grandfather who has a bad moment and falls down four steps and fractures vertebrae more safe? Do you want to get sued because this one practical thing is not in the design? I wouldn’t buy any tiny home that was unsafe in this manner.

Well Debbra, in New Zealand he couldn’t get sued because he isn’t the one who would build it for you. So, it is up to the builder to make it as safe as they think they need it to be.

Fortunately, New Zealand is not a litigious nation like the US.

And even if it didn’t have the stair rail, what is to stop you from having one put in after taking delivery? Also, the conventional tiny homes, i.e. Tumbleweed types have (gasp) dangerous ladders. Without wanting to appear to be snarky, all I can say is sheeeeesh woman!

Well said Paul. As a New Australian from NZ (only 45 years here) you are on the button with your remarks. Love the house except for the toilet opening to the area where you prepare food. Could easily be placed with the entry on the narrow side. Cheers from Australia.

First off as far as I can see NO plans or the actual house is for sale at this moment. And I highly doubt that the male builder is worried about pregnancy for himself.

AS for others-IF they chose to adapt this clever and very ingenious design–they would be more than free to ADD a handrail to the stairs.

Taking the devils advocate position here–I am handicapped. Below knee amputee with half a foot left on the other leg. And a severe balance issue. The FIRST thing I saw was the lack of handrail and in my little mind I said–Self, add thee a handrail!

This is by far the BEST use of space I have seen here—other places have had more bling and some have interesting features but THIS one–this is the one I would build.

When it comes time to build my “Dream RV” (probably using an old RV as a start point) THIS is the guy I want to help design it!!!!

Hmmmm—does that mean I would have to go to NZ to collaborate? Gee that’s a real shame!!!!!

The kitchen in this place is not only better laid out than the one in my house with the ZIP code but has tons more counter space and looks easier to work in. And the bathroom does not look like an afterthought—and has something larger than a dishwashing basin to SHOWER in. I have seen “luxury RV’s” that had smaller and more awkward looking bathrooms.

I would be very flattered if someone thought I had used granite counter tops in this! And altho it might not be that easy for ME to get to the loft–handrail added of course!!!—I am sure many others breathed a sigh of relief when THEY saw the stairs and the amount of head room built in here. Perhaps for an American towing requirement you could do a collapsable portion of the roofing? Where part of it would fold or slide down or???

PLEASE please tell us WHERE to see your other designs and ideas!!!! You might have a whole new career here!

I was thinking about height issues when traveling. For me, I would want to rearrange the door and make more room for the daybed, and putting a regular twin mattress with a mattress top, this is where I would sleep instead of a loft. I also for my house, I wouldn’t make it higher than 8 feet from the ground, then it can fit under more overpasses, etc. I am not big on climbing stairs any longer, except maybe a few steps. As I mentioned, I do like the front porch.

Brett built that house for his needs and life style. I am glad for him.
Others can always put a railing on the stairs. I also love the awning style windows, which allows you to have them open even if it rains, because the rain will roll off instead of raining in. I have pretty much thought that in New Zealand, and Australia it is warm more than cold. I would have an electric fireplace, that doesn’t take much width and don’t need wood or a flu, but many of us live in climates where it does get to cold from time to time.

Hi, grew up in Auckland and Bay if Islands (top of North Island) plus middle of North Island (Turangi, base of Lake Taupo). Yes it can be hot in the summer but even in Auckland we would have some ice in winter. Heck, it even snowed one year, very briefly. The middle of the north island is colder while the south island gets much more snow, getting heavier the further south you go. My neighbours in Auckland had a pot belly stove (1970s) while other houses had, and used, open fires in winter. We had electric heaters in all the rooms including bedrooms, set on timers and thermostats in winter. I moved to Ireland because I don’t like the heat, ironic as we’ve had many summers as hot as Auckland while in general the winters are no colder than Turangi but with less snow. If you lived in the southern parts of the US NZ would be much colder, although humidity can be bad as well, but if from the northern bits then NZ would be warmer. My dad lives in Te Puke while my son-in-law’s mum is in Taupo and winters would be fairly similar to an Irish winter, nippy and icy but usually without snow. Incidentally, we are living in a tiny home here with a couple of electric radiators for heating over winter, so you acclimatise fairly quickly. In a tiny home cooking is the fastest way to heat up a THoW. Am seriously considering returning to NZ and looking for a tiny home to live on dad’s property to begin with, as I get older even a couple of degrees warmer in winter is good, and some of the best THoWs seem to come from there.

STAIRS !!! lol… yes, I do look for that sort of thing. What a wonderful design and appears spacious enough to actually live in. I was surprised, just six metres long (about 18 feet). I loved the videos also, packed with great information. Thanks so much for making it available!

In the first video, everything shown WORKS. That roofline is genius and would seem to be aerodynamically friendly when being towed. He talked about being buffeted by passing semis, what about filling the water tank under the bench to make it heavier on the bottom?
All through the first video I kept thinking, “That’s smart, that’s smart, that’s smart.” The video host mentions he is 6’4, which would make Brett around 5’10-6′ tall. They never look cramped.

My dream is to have income property in a close-in suburb. I live in a city that will allow anyone to build just about anything, but there are minimum square footage concerns. A few blocks from me is a row of tiny studio apartments, and I was told that combined they met the minimum size requirements. Creating two duplex properties with this kind of aesthetic would provide four tiny homes and give me income so my non-existent retirement plan won’t be a problem.

I’m so glad to have found this article. Thanks Alex! Strongly recommend everyone watch both videos.

I like this roof line, it is perfect for a loft, and the windows, gives him a cross breeze, he also has dark shades in the bed area if he needs to make it darker for sleeping. It can also keep it from getting to warm. The stairs are great because they are on one side and go around the corner and don’t take up too much room while still being wide enough to safely use. The desk and table are a great and useful way to cover the wheel wells on each side. The daybed is a nice second bed or couch or lounger. The kitchen has plenty of room and counter top space for preparing and/or cooking meals, and he has a nice outdoor cooking b-b-q. Nicely done, and has a nice little porch at the door.

OK…! I just love this guy’s ideas, everything he did, he did on a shoe string budget, but did it all with great taste…! And very little waste.. I hope he has a web site on line some where so as I can get one of those cool bone earnings, because they are really cool… The way he maximized space from designing his house with the roof built inline as he has done with lots of head room for when he is ascending the stairs to get to his loft is a really great touch, as well as the way it cools the loft area… Well the man is a boater as I am, so I can understand from where his ideas are derived… Lots of great house ideas can be gotten from boats….

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